9

Editable Poly (Polygon/Element) 1051
Inset works on a selection of one or more polygons. As with
Outline, only the outer edges are affected.
Inset Settings—Opens the I nset Selected Faces
dialog (page 1–1074),whichletsyouinsetpolygons
via interactive manipulation.
If you click this button after performing a manual
inset, the same inset is performed on the current
selection as a preview and the dialog opens with
InsetAmountsettotheamountofthelastmanual
inset.
Bridge—Connects two polygons or polygon
selections on an object with a polygon “bridge.”
TherearetwowaystouseBridgeinDirect
Manipulation mode (that is, without opening the
Bridge Settings dialog):
• Maketwoseparatepolygonselectionsonthe
object, and then click Bridge. This creates the
bridge immediately using the current Bridge
settings, and then deactivates t he Bridge button.
• If no qualifying selection exists (that is, two
or more discrete polygon selections), clicking
Bridge activates the button and places you in
Bridge mode. First click a polygon and move
the mouse; a rubber-band line connects the
mouse cursor to the clicked polygon. Click a
second polygon to bridge the two. This creates
thebridgeimmediatelyusingthecurrentBridge
settings; the Bridge button remains active for
connecting more pairs of polygons. To exit
Bridge mode, right-click the active viewport or
click the Bridge button.
Note: Bridge a lways creates a str aight-line
connection between polygon pairs. To make
thebridgeconnectionfollowacontour,apply
modelingtoolsasappropriateafter creating the
bridge. For example, bridge two polygons, and
then use Bend (page 1–560).
Br idge Settings—Opens the Bridge dialog (page
1–1067),whichletsyouconnectpairsofpolygon
selections via interactive manipulation.
Flip—Reverses the directions of the normals of
selected polygons, hence their facing.
Hinge From Edge—Lets you perform a manual
hinge operation via direct manipulation in the
view port. Make a polygon selection, click this
button, and then drag vertical ly on any e dge to
hinge the selection. The mouse cursor changes to
a cross when over an edge.
The hinge edge needn’t be part of the selection. It can be any
edge of the mesh. Also, the selection needn’t b e contiguous.
Hingingpolygonsrotatesthemaboutanedge
and creates new polygons that form the sides of
the hinge, connecting the selection to the object.
It’s essentially an extrusion with rotation, with
the exception that, if the hinge edge belongs to a
selected polygon, that side is not extruded. The
manual version of Hinge From Edge works only
with an existing polygon selection.
Tip: Turn on Ignore Backfacing to avoid
inadvertently hinging about a backfacing edge.